Buffer zones

The flexibility of the national gas transport network varies depending on the transport load and is divided into four zones. Based on the anticipated transport load (depending on the programmes delivered by the shippers), we publish the sizes of the zones per hour at least two hours before the start of the gas day. These hourly values do not change once they have been published.

The four zones are:

Dark green zone: As long as the System Balance Signal (SBS) remains within the dark green zone, we will not perform a balancing action.

Light green zone: If the predicted System Balance Signal (SBS) enters or remains in the light green zone, we will, under certain circumstances, perform a balancing action.

Orange zone: If the predicted System Balance Signal (SBS) enters or remains in the orange zone, we will perform a balancing action.

Red zone: If the predicted System Balance Signal (SBS) enters or remains in the red zone, we will perform a balancing action. If we do not expect this to be sufficient to maintain system integrity, we will declare an emergency situation. GTS retains the right to instruct shippers to change the amount injected at entry points (including entry points with connected gas storage facilitates) and – as a last resort – the withdrawal at exit points.

Here we publish the buffer zones for the coming gas day. The boundary values of the dark green, light green and orange zones can be seen by clicking on the link ‘Actual buffer zones’.